The first one of the Top 7 unique health benefits of honey that Toplist would like to introduce to you is

that it contains a variety of nutrients. Indeed, honey is high in a variety of nutrients, and it is a good sugar substitute. A tablespoon (20 g) of honey contains:

• Calories: 61
• Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Carbs: 17 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Riboflavin: 1% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Copper: 1% of the DV

Honey is almost entirely sugar, with no fat and only trace amounts of protein and fiber. It also contains a few micronutrients, such as potassium, iron, and zinc, but only in trace amounts, less than 1% of the RDA (RDI). Therefore, most people do not consume enough honey to make it a significant dietary source of vitamins and minerals. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that honey is high in polyphenols, which are plant compounds that promote health.

Many important bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, are found in high-quality honey, which is minimally processed, unheated, and fresh. Darker varieties have higher antioxidant levels than lighter varieties.

High-quality honey is high in antioxidants such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, which may help with overall health. Antioxidants aid in the neutralization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, which can accumulate in cells and cause damage. Premature aging, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease can all be exacerbated by this damage. As a result, the antioxidant content of honey is responsible for many of its health benefits. These compounds are important in both health and disease, with some research indicating that they may protect against chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Furthermore, several studies have found that eating certain types of honey, such as buckwheat honey, may boost your blood's antioxidant status.

When it comes to blood sugar management, honey may have a slight advantage over regular sugar in a few instances. Even though honey, like other types of sugar, raises your blood sugar levels, the antioxidants it contains may help protect you against metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Researchers have discovered that honey has the potential to increase levels of adiponectin, a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood glucose control (Ramli, 2018). Additionally, there is some evidence that daily honey consumption may help people with type 2 diabetes lower their fasting blood sugar levels.

Even though honey may be slightly better for people with diabetes than refined sugar, honey should still be consumed in moderation (Feinman et al., 2015). It's also important to be aware that certain types of honey may need to be diluted with simple syrup before use. Despite the fact that adulteration of honey is prohibited in most countries, it continues to be a widespread problem.

Honey may also aid in the prevention of heart disease- another one of the unique health benefits of honey. Honey, according to one study, may help lower blood pressure, improve blood fat levels, regulate your heartbeat, and prevent the death of healthy cells — all of which can improve your heart function and health (Idrus et al., 2020).

One observational study by Zhang et al. (2020) involving over 4,500 people over the age of 40 linked moderate honey consumption to a lower risk of high blood pressure in women. Furthermore, a rat study found that honey helped protect the heart from oxidative stress (Khalil et al., 2015 ). Furthermore, propolis, a type of resin produced by bees from sap-producing trees and similar plants, is commonly found in raw honey. Propolis has the potential to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels (Braakhuis, 2015).

Overall, no long-term human studies on honey and heart health are available. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of honey on heart health.

Since ancient Egypt, topical honey treatment has been used to heal wounds and burns, which is among the unique health benefits of honey. This is still a common practice today. A meta-analysis of 26 studies on honey and wound care discovered that it is most effective at healing partial-thickness burns and wounds that have become infected following surgery (Jull et al., 2015).

Honey can also be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers, which are serious complications that can lead to amputation.One study involving people with diabetes-related foot ulcers found that honey as a wound treatment had a 43.3 percent success rate. Another study of Kamaratos et al. (2014) found that topical honey healed 97 percent of participants' diabetes-related ulcers. Honey's healing properties, according to researchers, stem from its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (Kamaratos et al., 2014).

Furthermore, according to Hashemipour et al. (2014) and Fingleton (2014), it may aid in the treatment of other skin conditions such as psoriasis and herpes lesions. Manuka honey is thought to be particularly effective in the treatment of burns. If you have a severe burn, you should seek medical attention right away (Niaz et al., 2017).

Another one of the Top 7 unique health benefits of honey that Toplist would like to introduce to you is that honey may help suppress coughing in children. Coughing is a common sign and symptom in children. These infections can have an impact on both children's and parents' sleep and quality of life. Common cough medications, on the other hand, are not always effective and can cause side effects. Interestingly, there is evidence that honey is an effective treatment option, so it may be a good alternative (Goldman, 2014).

According to one meta-analysis of several studies on honey and cough in children, honey appears to be more effective than diphenhydramine for cough symptoms (Oduwole et al., 2018). It may also help reduce cough duration. According to Nitsche and Carreño (2016), it may also improve sleep quality in children with coughs as well as their parents. Furthermore, unlike some cough medicines, honey has no side effects. However, due to the risk of botulism, children under the age of one should never be given honey.

Honey is simple to incorporate into your diet. Honey can be used in any way that sugar can be used to get a small boost of antioxidants. It's a great way to sweeten plain yogurt, coffee, or tea. It can also be used in cooking and baking. It can be applied directly to minor burns or wounds as a home remedy, or it can be taken orally for coughs.

Because of the risk of botulism, honey should not be given to infants under the age of one year. Also, according to Chow and Chin (2017) and Yang et al. (2014), because honey is a type of sugar, eating it will cause your blood sugar levels to rise. Furthermore, consuming large amounts of honey, especially over a long period of time, can contribute to weight gain and increase your risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. As a result, limit your intake to low-to-moderate levels.